Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius eBook

Careful consideration of this should make those who
frame laws for commonwealths and kingdoms more alive
to the necessity of placing restraints on men’s
evil appetites, and depriving them of all hope of
doing wrong with impunity.

CHAPTER XLIII.—­That Men fighting in their own Cause make good and
resolute Soldiers.

From what has been touched upon above, we are also
led to remark how wide is the difference between an
army which, having no ground for discontent, fights
in its own cause, and one which, being discontented,
fights to satisfy the ambition of others. For
whereas the Romans were always victorious under the
consuls, under the decemvirs they were always defeated.
This helps us to understand why it is that mercenary
troops are worthless; namely, that they have no incitement
to keep them true to you beyond the pittance which
you pay them, which neither is nor can be a sufficient
motive for such fidelity and devotion as would make
them willing to die in your behalf. But in those
armies in which there exists not such an attachment
towards him for whom they fight as makes them devoted
to his cause, there never will be valour enough to
withstand an enemy if only he be a little brave.
And since such attachment and devotion cannot be looked
for from any save your own subjects, you must, if
you would preserve your dominions, or maintain your
commonwealth or kingdom, arm the natives of your country;
as we see to have been done by all those who have
achieved great things in war.

Under the decemvirs the ancient valour of the Roman
soldiers had in no degree abated; yet, because they
were no longer animated by the same good will, they
did not exert themselves as they were wont. But
so soon as the decemvirate came to an end, and the
soldiers began once more to fight as free men, the
old spirit was reawakened, and, as a consequence,
their enterprises, according to former usage, were
brought to a successful close.

CHAPTER XLIV.—­That the Multitude is helpless without a Head: and that
we should not with the same breath threaten and ask leave.

When Virginia died by her father’s hand, the
commons of Rome withdrew under arms to the Sacred
Hill. Whereupon the senate sent messengers to
demand by what sanction they had deserted their commanders
and assembled there in arms. And in such reverence
was the authority of the senate held, that the commons,
lacking leaders, durst make no reply. “Not,”
says Titus Livius, “that they were at a loss
what to answer, but because they had none to answer
for them;” words which clearly show how helpless
a thing is the multitude when without a head.